Device for controlling the gas pressure in a coke oven chamber

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for controlling the gas pressure in a coke oven chamber comprising an immersion cup, which supplies water, and an immersion pipe, which is connected to the gas space of the coke oven chamber and terminates in the immersion cup. The immersion cup comprises an overflow and a closeable drain. The invention provides that, in order to control the level of the liquid, a drain pipe for water is provided whose inlet side end projects into the immersion pipe and whose lateral surface side is provided with inflow openings for admitting water. A slide, which is open on both faces, is placed inside the drain pipe, closes the inflow openings of the drain pipe according to its position in the longitudinal direction and forms a vertically adjustable overflow for the water flowing into the drain tube. The inflow side end of the drain pipe is surrounded by a siphon pipe, which closes the drain pipe at the top and forms an annular channel. The annular channel leads into the immersion cup underneath the immersion pipe and is provided for admitting water.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for controlling the gaspressure in a coke oven chamber, with an immersion cup, to which wateris supplied, and with an immersion pipe which is connected to the gasspace of the coke oven chamber and terminates in the immersion cup, theimmersion cup having an overflow and a closeable outflow, and theimmersion pipe being designed with an end portion, the free gas outletcross section of which is dependent on the liquid level in the immersioncup.

[0002] Such a device is known from EP 0 649 455 B1. By the liquid levelin the immersion cup being varied, the gas pressure of an associatedcoke oven chamber can be controlled as a function of the release of gas.The variation in the liquid level in the immersion cup takes placeindirectly by the control of the water inflow and of the water outflow.In this case, balanced water levels are established, which are dependenton the static pressure of the water column in the immersion cup and onthe free cross section of the outflow orifice and which change in theevent of fluctuations in the inflow quantity or outflow quantity. Ifthere is a technical defect on one of the devices for controlling thewater inflow or water outflow, there is the risk that the balanced waterlevel varies in an uncontrolled manner and the pressure in the coke ovenchamber either rises too sharply or falls too sharply. In the event of apressure rise, emissions via the oven seals may occur. In the event of apressure drop, there is the risk of an ingress of air into the coke ovenchamber, which may lead to overheating. Another disadvantage is that,for each coke oven chamber of a coke oven battery, it is necessary tohave a complicated control for determining and metering the waterinflows and water outflows during a carbonizing operation.

[0003] In an alternative version described in EP 0 649 455 B1 (FIG. 10),the immersion pipe has a telescopically lengthenable end piece. Thecontrol of the chamber pressure takes place by the end piece beingimmersed differently into the collecting sump of the immersion cup.owing to the large dimensions of the gas-carrying immersion pipe, acomplicated mechanism for adjusting the end piece is necessary. Afurther problem is the sealing-off between the telescopic end piece andthe immersion pipe.

[0004] The object on which the invention is based is to specify a devicefor controlling the gas pressure in a coke oven chamber, which allows adirect and accurate control of the liquid level in the immersion cup. Itis to be set up in a simple way in structural terms and to ensure thatthe coke oven chamber operates reliably and in a simple way in controlterms.

[0005] Proceeding from a device having the features described initially,the object is achieved, according to the invention, in that, to controlthe liquid level, an outflow pipe for water is provided, the inflow-sideend of which projects into the immersion pipe and contains casing-sideinflow orifices for the inflow of water, in that within the outflow pipeis arranged a slide which is open on both end faces and which closes theinflow orifices of the outflow pipe in the longitudinal directionaccording to the position of a said slide and forms a verticallyadjustable overflow for the water flowing into the outflow pipe, and inthat the inflow-side end of the outflow pipe is surrounded by a siphonpipe which closes the outflow pipe on the top side and which forms anannular duct for the inflow of water, said annular duct issuing into theimmersion cup below the immersion pipe.

[0006] In the device according to the invention, the respective positionof the top edge of the slide defines the height of the water levelwithin the immersion cup. By means of adjusting movements of the slide,the water level can be controlled directly and with great accuracy.Control takes place within the immersion pipe and consequently on thegas supply side, where only slight swirlings of the water surface canoccur. In contrast to the water surface outside the immersion pipe,which is swirled to a great extent by rising gas bubbles of theoutflowing gas, the comparatively calm water surface within theimmersion pipe allows a highly accurate setting and control of theliquid level. The siphon pipe, which is arranged at the inflow-side endof the outflow pipe and which closes the outflow pipe on the top sideand forms an annular duct for the inflow of water, said annular ductissuing into the immersion cup below the immersion pipe, prevents gasfrom flowing out via the outflow pipe and from adversely influencing thecontrol. By virtue of the arrangement of the siphon pipe, the gas isforced to follow the path from the immersion pipe through the waterimmersion of adjustable height or, when the immersion is not complete,through the free gas outlet cross section of the immersion pipe. Thelength of the siphon pipe is dependent on the required control range forsetting the liquid level. It goes without saying that the lower edge ofthe siphon pipe must always be located below the water level set in theimmersion cup, in order to prevent a gas discharge.

[0007] The immersion cup can be flooded by the slide being moved intoits uppermost position and by the casing-side inflow orifices of theoutflow pipe thereby being closed completely. An outflow of water fromthe immersion cup is then no longer possible via the outflow pipe.Within the immersion cup, a water column is established, which isdetermined by the overflow of the immersion cup. The water column isdimensioned such that the gas path between the gas space of the cokeoven chamber and a crude-gas collector on the outflow side of the deviceis interrupted. In this operating position, the coke oven chamber can beopened and carbonized coke expelled.

[0008] The immersion cup can also be emptied completely by the outflowof the immersion cup being opened. With the immersion cup emptied, thegas space of the coke oven chamber is connected to a crude-gas collectoron the outflow side of the device, without any throttling of the gasflow, so that gases are sucked away by means of the vacuum prevailing inthe crude-gas collector. This operation position is required in order tosuspend a coke oven chamber freshly filled with coal onto the crude-gascollector of a coke oven battery.

[0009] According to a preferred version of the invention, the outflowpipe is connected, as a moveable adjusting element, to a plug assignedto the outflow of the immersion cup, the water which flows out in theoutflow pipe flowing out through a water duct of the plug sealing offthe immersion cup. The plug can be moved into an open position by meansof a lifting movement of the outflow pipe and frees the outflow of theimmersion cup. In a further refinement, the invention teaches that anadjusting rod is connected to the slide. By means of a lifting movementof the adjusting rod, the slide can be moved against a stop of theoutflow pipe and takes up the outflow pipe together with the firmlyconnected plug.

[0010] As a drive for actuating the adjusting rod, an actuating drive isexpediently used, which, in the event of the failure of its driveenergy, remains in the last control position, since this in each caseconstitutes a position in which the water level/gas pressure combinationcorresponds to a defined reliable operating state of the coke ovenchamber. Since, in the device according to the invention, each controlposition of the actuating drive acting on the slide can immediately anddirectly be assigned a water level in the immersion cup, the water levelwill not change in the event of a technical defect of the actuatingdrive or after the failure of the drive energy. This is important, aboveall, in the removal of crude gas from the coke oven chamber, since,here, the pressure should neither rise too sharply nor fall too sharply.In the former case, emissions via the oven seals may occur; in thelatter case, there is the risk of an ingress of air into the coke ovenchamber and, as a result, possible damage due to overheating. The waterlevel last set before the failure of an actuating drive at the sametime, for this state, constitutes the reliable position for ovenoperation.

[0011] Further refinements of the device according to the invention arethe subject matter of claims 4 and 5.

[0012] The invention is described below with reference to a drawingwhich illustrates only one exemplary embodiment and in which,diagrammatically,

[0013]FIG. 1a and 1 b show a device, arranged in the gas path between acoke oven chamber and a crude-gas collector, for controlling the gaspressure in the coke oven chamber in different operating positions,

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the device in anillustration which is enlarged in relation to FIG. 1a and 1 b,

[0015]FIG. 3 and 4 show other operating positions of the deviceillustrated in FIG. 2.

[0016] The device illustrated in the figures serves for controlling thegas pressure in a coke oven chamber 1 of a coke oven battery. It isarranged within a crude-gas collector 2 of the coke oven battery and isconnected via a riser pipe 3 to the gas space of the coke oven chamber 1(FIG. 1a, 1 b). The basic setup of the device includes an immersion cup4, to which water 5 is constantly supplied, and an immersion pipe 6which is connected to the riser pipe 3 via a riser pipe elbow 7 andterminates in the immersion cup 4. The immersion cup 4 has an overflow 8and a closeable outflow 9. The immersion pipe 6 is designed with an endportion 10, the free gas outlet cross section of which is dependent onthe liquid level 11 in the immersion cup 4. In the exemplary embodiment,the end portion 10 has casing-side slots 12 (FIG. 2). Furthermore, thelower edge may be profiled or beveled.

[0017] It may be gathered from FIG. 2 that, in order to control theliquid level 11, an outflow pipe 13 for water is provided, theinflow-side end of which projects into the immersion pipe 6 and containscasing-side inflow orifices 14 for the inflow of water. Within theoutflow pipe 13 is arranged a slide 15 which is open on both end facesand which closes the inflow orifices 14 of the outflow pipe 13 in thelongitudinal direction according to the position of said slide and formsa vertically adjustable overflow for the water flowing into the outflowpipe 13. The inflow-side end of the outflow pipe 13 is surrounded by asiphon pipe 16 which closes the outflow pipe 13 on the top side andwhich forms an annular duct for the inflow of water, said annular ductissuing into the immersion cup 4 below the immersion pipe 6. The topedge of the slide 15 defines the height of the water level within theimmersion cup 4. The siphon pipe 16 in this case prevents the situationwhere gas can flow through the outflow pipe 13 and adversely influencethe water level control.

[0018] The casing-side recesses 12 in the end portion 10 of theimmersion pipe 6, said recesses being, for example, of slot-shapeddesign, extend in the longitudinal direction over a portion a, thelength of which is adapted to the adjustment range of the slide 15within the outflow pipe 13.

[0019] The slide 15 can be moved by means of an adjusting rod 17 whichis led through a portion of the immersion pipe 6. Said adjusting rod isled through the wall of the riser pipe elbow 7, the elongation of whichconstitutes the immersion pipe 6, is guided outward and is connectedthere to a suitable actuating drive 18 (FIG. 1a, 1 b). What isexpediently used as an actuating drive 18 is a drive assembly which, inthe event of a failure of its drive energy, remains in the last controlposition, since this constitutes that position in which the waterlevel/gas pressure combination corresponds to a defined reliable state.This is important, above all, in the removal of crude gas from the cokeoven chamber, since, here, the pressure should neither rise too sharplynor fall too sharply. In the case of an uncontrolled pressure rise,there is the risk of emission via the oven seals; in the event of apressure drop, a discharge of air into the coke oven chamber ispossible, which could lead to damage due to overheating. The lastcontrolled water level before the failure of the drive energy of theactuating drive 18 or before any other fault of the actuating drive 18at the same time, for this state, constitutes the reliable position foroven operation.

[0020] In the operating position of the device, as illustrated in FIG.3, the casing-side inflow orifices 14 of the outflow pipe 13 which aredesigned, for example, as longitudinal slots are closed by means of theslide 15. The immersion cup 4 is flooded by the inflowing water. Thewater flows out via the overflow 8 of the immersion cup 4. The liquidcolumn b in the immersion pipe 6 is such that the gas path between thegas space of the coke oven chamber 1 and the crude-gas collector 2 isinterrupted. The coke oven chamber 1 can be opened and carbonized cokeexpelled. The device according to the invention prevents the situationwhere air may pass into the crude-gas collector 2.

[0021] The outflow pipe 13 is connected, as a moveable adjustingelement, to a plug 19 assigned to the outflow 9, the water which flowsout in the outflow pipe 13 flowing out through a water duct of the plug19 sealing off the immersion cup 4 (FIG. 1a and 2). The plug 19 can bemoved into the open position, illustrated in FIG. 4, by means of alifting movement of the outflow pipe 13 and frees the outflow 9 of theimmersion cup 4 for emptying the immersion cup. The device according tothe invention assumes the operating position illustrated in FIG. 4 whenthe associated coke oven chamber 1 is freshly filled with coal. Thefilling gases are sucked away, unthrottled, into the crude-gas collector2 by means of the vacuum prevailing in the crude-gas collector 2.

[0022] By means of the device according to the invention, the completeoperating cycle of a coke oven chamber can be controlled or regulated.To load the coke oven chamber 1 with coal, the immersion cup 4 isemptied completely, so that the filling gases can be sucked away,unthrottled, into the crude-gas collector 2 by means of the vacuumprevailing in the crude-gas collector 2. During the carbonization time,the chamber pressure is controlled according to a stipulated value bythe control of the liquid level in the device according to theinvention. To expel the carbonized coke from the coke oven chamber 1,the gas path is interrupted by the flooding of the immersion cup 4, sothat no air can pass into the crude-gas collector 2. It may be gatheredfrom a comparative look at the figures that the control, closing andopening of the gas path take place by means of a codirectional movementof the slide 15. By means of the adjusting movements of the slide 15,the liquid level can be controlled (FIG. 2). By means of a furtheradjusting movement of the slide, the inflow orifices 14 of the outflowpipe 13 can be closed (FIG. 3). The slide 15 can be moved against astop, for example the upper cover of the outflow pipe 13, and, duringthe further lifting movement, takes up the outflow pipe 13 together withthe firmly connected plug 19, the outflow 9 of the immersion cup 4 beingopened (FIG. 4). In the sequence of operating steps, the necessaryadjusting movements of the adjusting rod 17 are small, so that theoperating steps can be executed quickly.

1. A device for controlling the gas pressure in a coke oven chamber,with an immersion cup (4), to which water is supplied, and with animmersion pipe (6) which is connected to the gas space of the coke ovenchamber (1) and terminates in the immersion cup, the immersion cup (4)having an overflow (8) and a closeable outflow (9), and the immersionpipe (6) being designed with an end portion (10), the free gas outletcross section of which is dependent on the liquid level (11) in theimmersion cup (4), characterized in that, to control the liquid level(11), an outflow pipe (13) for water is provided, the inflow-side end ofwhich projects into the immersion pipe (6) and contains casing-sideinflow orifices (14) for the inflow of water, in that within the outflowpipe (13) is arranged a slide (15) which is open on both end faces andwhich closes the inflow orifices (14) of the outflow pipe (13) in thelongitudinal direction according to the position of said slide and formsa vertically adjustable overflow for the water flowing into the outflowpipe (13), and in that the inflow-side end of the outflow pipe (13) issurrounded by a siphon pipe (16) which closes the outflow pipe (13) onthe top side and which forms an annular duct for the inflow of water,said annular duct issuing into the immersion cup (4) below the immersionpipe (6).
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that theoutflow pipe (14) is connected, as a moveable adjusting element, to aplug (19) assigned to the outflow (9) of the immersion cup (4), thewater which flows out in the outflow pipe (13) flowing out through awater duct of the plug (19) sealing off the immersion cup (4), and inthat the plug (19) can be moved into an open position by means of alifting movement of the outflow pipe (13) and frees the outflow (9) ofthe immersion cup (4).
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2,characterized in that the slide (15) has connected to it an adjustingrod (17), by means of the lifting movement of which the inflow orifices(14) of the outflow pipe (13) can be closed, and in that, by means of afurther lifting movement of the adjusting rod (17), the slide (15) canbe moved against a stop of the outflow pipe (13) and takes up theoutflow pipe (13) together with the firmly connected plug (19).
 4. Thedevice as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting rod(17) is led through a portion of the immersion pipe (6).
 5. The deviceas claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the endportion (10) of the immersion pipe (6) has casing-side recesses (12)which extend in the longitudinal direction over a portion (a), thelength of which is adapted to the adjustment range of the slide (15)within the outflow pipe (13).